pistiäinen

Pistiäinen is the Finnish word for sawfly. Sawflies are insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera, the same order as ants, bees, and wasps. However, sawflies are considered a more primitive group and are distinguished by their broad waist, unlike the constricted "wasp waist" of many other hymenopterans. The name "sawfly" comes from the female's saw-like ovipositor, which she uses to cut slits into plant tissues, typically leaves, stems, or wood, to lay her eggs.

The larvae of sawflies are often grub-like and can resemble caterpillars, though they typically have more prolegs (fleshy appendages) than true caterpillars. Many sawfly larvae are herbivorous and can be significant pests in agriculture and forestry, feeding voraciously on plant matter. Some species feed on a wide variety of plants, while others are specialists, feeding on only a few types of plants.

Adult sawflies vary greatly in size and appearance, with some being quite small and others quite large. They are often weak fliers and are not known for aggressive behavior. Their diet as adults often consists of nectar and pollen, though some may not feed at all. Sawflies are found worldwide, with a large number of species inhabiting temperate regions. Their life cycle involves egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages, with the larval stage being the one most associated with plant damage.